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Even if you’ve never had the opportunity to see a live production of a famous opera, you’ve probably heard the gorgeous Anvil Chorus from Guiseppe Verdi’s Il Trovatore. On Sunday afternoon you’ll have a chance to see this powerful opera up close, as performed by the Verismo Opera company. Here’s the company’s summary of the juicy plot:

“It is full of dramatic scenes: tales of flames at the stake, kidnapping and revenge master-minded by Azucena, the conniving gypsy woman; a mysterious troubadour and Leonora who loses her heart to him; and the drama of war waged on a Spanish castle fortress. Set in the early 15th century, the story is told by three separate, intertwining sub-plots, rich with colorful history.”

And there's powerfully dramatic music to match.

The show is being presented as a staged production with live orchestral accompaniment in a number of Bay Area locations in the next couple of weeks. On the opening weekend, on Sunday, August 14, at 2:00pm, you can see it at Berkeley’s Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St., Berkeley, CA 94709.

Cast members for the Sunday production include Bay Area favorites soprano Eliza O’Malley and tenor Frederick Winthrop, with a special guest, Colombian baritone Blas Alberto Canedo, who is currently based in Houston.